The Argosy — page 198: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Village Blacksmith. 181 convent ; it had need look picturesque outside, for the interior is ugly enough, as you will see to-morrow.” ‘‘T am afraid I shan’t be able to do that,” said Captain Raleigh, eyeing Vera sharply. “Why not?” said Vera. ‘Because I am a Catholic; didn’t you know it 2?” “ A Catholic ? Oh, dear, I am sorry,” said Vera, naively ; but the next moment she could have bitten her tongue out for saying it. “Why are you sorry? Surely as your dear mother was a good Catholic, you can’t have any prejudice against us? ” “Oh, no, it isn’t that ; besides, I was baptised a Catholic. Father Ambrose baptised me when I was a week old, so perhaps I shall be one myself some day, when I know more about it.” “Then tell me why you are so sorry that I am one.” Vera blushed crimson, and poked vigorously with her umbrella among the fir-needles with which the path was strewn. At last she said in a hesitating tone: “Well, you see my father is very bigoted, and I am afraid when he hears it he won’t let us have any more walks or rides together.” ‘And shall you mind that ?” eagerly demanded Captain Raleigh. “Yes,” said Vera frankly. ‘‘I was very dull till you came, and I have enjoyed this week very much.” ‘So have I; so much that I wish it could last for ever. I wish we could walk and ride through life together ; I have wished it ever since I sat opposite you at dinner at Avranches. Shall we do it, Vera?” Vera trembled, for this was the first time he had called her by her christian name; but there was an element of coquetry in her nature, and she could not resist teasing him just a little. Well,” she said demurely, ‘‘I like walking very much, and [I like riding very much, but I don’t think I should care to spend my whole life riding and walking. It might pall after awhile. Besides, it would be so very tiring you know.” Captain Raleigh, however, was not a man to stand teasing ; he. knew Vera cared for him, he knew too those lines of Heine: Der zum ersten male liebt Sei’s auch gliicklos ist ein Gott Aber wer zum zweiten male Gliicklos hebt der ist ein Narr.” Me had loved once unhappily ; he had no intention of loving un- tuckily a second time, and so incurring the poet’s reproach of being a fool. “You know what I mean, Vera; this is no time for trifling,” he said sternly ; and Vera liked him better than ever. “Iam in earnest,” he went on. ‘I meant to have spoken to your COMIC OOO ‘S (C(O)